The Yankees could decide their fifth starter by the end of the weekend, manager Joe Girardi said before Thursday night's game against the Red Sox.

"I don't know if we'll decide it by the end of the weekend or if we'll wait a little bit longer," Girardi said. "We have a night game (Friday), so we could have some discussions. And we have a home game Sunday, we could have some discussions. And maybe we'll make the decision by then."

Two of the four Yankees in the race — Michael Pineda and David Phelps — will start by then. Phelps will throw against Boston Thursday. Pineda is scheduled to start Sunday. The Yankees have scheduled an off day Monday.

That likely leaves two of the other competitors — Vidal Nuno and Adam Warren — out of the mix.

Girardi hasn't said when either is expected to pitch again, though he's said some pitchers will have to split games to ensure those already in the rotation — CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Ivan Nova and Masahiro Tanaka — get starts in.

Pineda might have had one less start than Phelps this spring coming into Thursday, but the righty has started to show the promise the Yankees expected when they traded catcher Jesus Montero for him in 2012. Shoulder surgery sidelined Pineda for all of that season and most of 2013.

Phelps has been impressive, as well. But, Girardi said, while Pineda's always been a starter, the Yankees are "obviously aware that (Phelps has) pitched out of the bullpen and had some success there as well."